“On June 17, 2015, a young white man with hate in his heart, entered Emanuel AME Church, in Charleston., South Carolina and killed nine black people. This young man was involved with white supremacy and wanted to make a statement by killing my mother, Mrs., Ethel Lance, my two cousins and a childhood friend.

The impact this devastating event has had on my life are many. My immediate family was torn apart, where siblings no longer communicate with each other; I had to resign my job as a Trauma Chaplain; and my dear sister Esther, died two years later, mostly from a broken heart and complicated grief.

Since that time, I joined one of the largest grass roots advocacy groups, advocating for gun violence prevention. I have spent my time speaking across the country in colleges, universities and church telling my story and appealing to others to support legislation for common sense gun laws. I have written a book, For Such a Time as This - Hope and forgiveness after the Charleston Massacre and participated in a documentary to be released June, 2019 called Emanuel.
Everyday. I try to do something that would honor the Emanuel9.”

- Rev. Sharon Risher, North Carolina